The Quarterfinal round is officially in the books, and it was a weekend defined by massive upsets and the total collapse of the “bye-week advantage.” For the first time in the 12-team format, three of the four top seeds lost after their week of rest.
The field is now down to the Final Four. Here is your preview of the College Football Playoff Semifinals.
The Semifinal Matchups
| Game | Matchup | Date & Time (ET) | Venue |
| Fiesta Bowl | (10) Miami vs. (6) Ole Miss | Thu, Jan 8, 7:30 PM | State Farm Stadium (Glendale, AZ) |
| Peach Bowl | (5) Oregon vs. (1) Indiana | Fri, Jan 9, 7:30 PM | Mercedes-Benz Stadium (Atlanta, GA) |
Game Previews & Storylines
(10) Miami vs. (6) Ole Miss — Fiesta Bowl
This is the “Cinderella” bracket. Neither team won their conference, yet both have dominated the playoff. Miami shocked the world by dethroning the defending champion Ohio State (24-14), while Ole Miss erased a 9-point halftime deficit to stun Georgia (39-34) in the Sugar Bowl.
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The Angle: Carson Beck vs. Trinidad Chambliss. Beck has been the ultimate “steady hand” for Miami, but Chambliss is playing at an elite level, coming off a career-high 362 yards in the Sugar Bowl.
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What to Watch: Can Miami’s defensive line, led by Rueben Bain, contain Ole Miss’s explosive ground game? The Rebels just set a program record with 13 wins and are playing with “house money” momentum.
(5) Oregon vs. (1) Indiana — Peach Bowl
This is a high-stakes Big Ten rematch. Back in October, Indiana traveled to Eugene and stunned the Ducks with a 10-point victory. Oregon earned their revenge tour by shutting out Texas Tech (23-0) in the Orange Bowl, while Indiana made a massive statement by throttling Alabama 38-3.
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The Angle: Heisman vs. Defense. Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza just proved why he won the Heisman, tossing three touchdowns against the Tide. Oregon, however, just turned in the most dominant defensive performance of the playoffs, holding Texas Tech to zero points.
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What to Watch: Can Oregon QB Dante Moore find success against an Indiana defense that hasn’t allowed a touchdown in nearly six quarters of play?
The Road to the Title
The winners of these two games will meet in the National Championship on Monday, January 19, 2026, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami.
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Miami/Ole Miss winner will be looking for their first title of the modern era.
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Indiana/Oregon winner would represent the Big Ten’s third consecutive appearance in the title game.
The “Bye-Week Curse”: Before this round, teams coming off a bye were 0-6 in the 12-team era. Indiana finally broke that streak with their win over Alabama, but Ohio State, Georgia, and Texas Tech all fell.
